Mark Hughes has no problem with Joey Barton tweeting

Mark Hughes: the new QPR boss has no problem with Joey Barton tweeting

Mark Hughes insists he has no problem with Joey Barton tweeting, but has warned the QPR captain that he will have to step in if his actions compromise dressing room harmony at Loftus Road.

Barton used Twitter to label former manager Neil Warnock "embarrassing" after he claimed people from inside and outside of the club tweeting owner Tony Fernandes helped "poison" his reputation and led to his sacking two weeks ago.

Barton's tirade came less than 24 hours before Saturday's 3-1 win over Wigan, but Hughes did not speak to the midfielder and has no current plans to ask him to tone down his controversial tweets.

Asked if he was concerned about Barton's actions, Hughes said: "No, not at this stage.

"Joey understands what happens in the dressing room stays there and I don't think it will be a problem."

However, Hughes stressed the need for his squad to stick together to keep out of the relegation zone, and warned Barton that any messages which damage squad unity will not be tolerated.

"If ever I felt that it was going to compromise us then we'd have a conversation and talk it through, but certainly I haven't felt the need to do that up to this point," Hughes added.

Barton played through jeers from the travelling Wigan fans as QPR moved out of the bottom three thanks to strikes from Heidar Helguson, Akos Buzsaky and Tommy Smith.

Barton, who returned to the side after a three-match suspension, has been no stranger to controversy and Hughesbacked the 29-year-old to deal with any flak that comes his way.

"He's a big personality and he can deal with that, he thrives on it," Hughes said. "Some players carry that well, carry it on their shoulders and it doesn't affect them at all.

"I thought he played really well. Other players try to shy away from all that because it affects their performance level.

"But for Joey it's water off a duck's back."

Next up for QPR is an FA Cup clash against Chelsea at Loftus Road. The game will be the first time John Terry and Anton Ferdinand have played each other since the latter accused the England captain of racially abusing him in October - something which Terry denies.

Hughes will check Ferdinand is in the right frame of mind to play, adding: "It would be silly (for me) not to talk to him. I'll do it only to get it clear in my own mind where everybody is with it.

"He's not come to me and said 'Gaffer, I need to speak to you about this situation' so I don't think it's affected him at all to be perfectly honest."